Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-02-17


10 me-"
And then, for some occult reason, poor
little Miss Prime bushed IA sensitive
pink again
well. revered Aunt Selma mine.
cried Mamie, when the two were at
home once more, " what think you OF
my chances with the nat ob DiiberG
Didn't he seem 10 talk 10 mel rodigious-
ly during the latter part OF The EVENING"
Now, evidently. this is my chance. A
very rich fellow has always been my
castle in the air. has 1t nott Aud there
is the very mln, rich. they say, and not
80 old, either"
And Mamie stood looking down upon
Miss Selma with a hundr d little imps
OF mischief dancing in her eyes.
III YOU thought you could like
him, dear" began Miss Selma un-
certainly.
In the silence OF her little room that
night, Miss Selma prayed for the happi-
ness OF Mamie, and one other, II this
thing ) u be.
IL any personal remembrances selfshly
obtruded themselves, and a tear fell,
dropping down on the well-worn cover
OF her Bible, blame her not. Miss
Selma, with gentle resolution. put the
memories by.
There had been many things she had
not understood these many years back.
The bow had fallen long ago, when the
~fair-haired, gentle girl, waiting for her
bold young lover, had been told sud
denly that he had left the town. There
had been no sign or word OF explana-
ton.
. Selma Prime might conjecture that il
was her fathers purse. proud treatment
OF the pennIless sutton that had stang
the young All into this abrupt depart
ure; but her friends and a~cquaintances
held another theory.
Young Dilber had always been a
"pretty lively fellow. II wasn't To be
expected that little shy Sc ina Prime
was going to keep him. Did she think
he would ever come backp Well, she
was mistaken, then. He hal cut loose
and he was go ng 10 "stay" cut loose.
II little Mis-, Primes burden had
grown heavier, in her own despite,
Mamie formed a glowing contrast to
her. Never had the girl seemed bright
er or prettier. There was AS though "A
suppressed currt mt OF something mys-
teri usly juyou, were running through
all her moods.
Every now and then she would make
little lunges at Miss Selma, aud hug
and kiss her with mischieyous effusion
and a warmth and insistence which
would cause the aunt, softly Gliding,
and yet pink vi h pleasure, TO murmur,
My dear, my dear!'
"lou dearest, g%irlishest Of maiden
aunt : " prial Mamma nm nna such aaea-
sion. How do YOU con,rive 10 blush
SO prettily at every little thing? 1t
really makes you quite too charming for
o. a very aged person; 30 you know
that | 10 Id not blush that way II /
tried. | should certainly come into my
everlasting fortune at once, IL / could"
"Iou may come into it without" said
Miss Selma gently.
At this Miss Mamie only laughed.
But indee with bushes or without. she
and Mr.. Dilber seemed 10 b. growing
the h,-l u. friends. They wer" much
together, AM had long GO y-rSaliuns.
t.tPur ort VI which the girl never dis
closed to Miss Selma. But the latter
could only find this naturFl. "Wh n
she II ready To TIL me. she will speak.'
thought he 10 herself.
Weeks pass d BY, and the time was
fast coming for a frs ival at Uslithe
Church.. Mamie sa,d:
Tonight We decorate the church.
Aun Selma. Don't forget that. And
you're 10 stay "A Little after the others
20. for Mr.. Dilber wants to speak to
you"
Miss selma had 20 doubt as 10 why
Mr.. Dllber wished 10 speak to her. He
and Mamie had C me to an understand
ing and now he was 10 ask her consent
TO their MARI &c.
When Miss Selma entered the little
church again with her lovely niece on
this n GIT OF festive preparati n, her
eyes shpne with 90 i, autiiul and soft a
light that Mamie, turning upon her sud
denly, exclai ed:
Aunt Selma! You may scold me in
holy horror II you choose, but you are
at this moment just like the angels in
heaven. or a transiigured saint"
Certainly II was a ain and gently dig
nified little maiden lady. aud one who
concealed her inwari tremors we'll. who
waite I beaind while the others left the
little church, one by one. aud quietly
stood as Mr.. Dilber came towards her.
Selma" he said 81 think you
4. know why ] wantei to speak to YOU"
Yes" and the gentle face was In
truth TRANSPORTED now In It's sacrifice.
"You love Mantle, and you want her for
your wife,
mo, no not Mamie! You-you."
After a pause he went on:
Its been a long time and a hard bat
tie, and a life's separation. Selma. Per-
haps you blamed me, and you had a
right. But | was goaded by despair
and a cutting humiliation ~ my poverty
into going. | swore to myself that 1
would not come back till 1t might be
not empty hanled. And so the years
passed. The moor OF our day Is over
and gone, Selma. But the evening OF IL
may be ours still TO spend together"
But ] have grown SO old" faltered
Miss Selma.
"Old? Your MOI You never will
be- IL Is |, Selma, who have grown old
old and hardened-weary OF the battle
of llfe."
And so II came about that little Miss
Prime issued forth into the night, above
which the stars palpitated like living
things, this time not alone. And when
the two reached the house there was
Mamie, radian. In the ruidy light Of
the open door, to receive them.
But then, indeed, IL was as though
Miss Selma would sink into the ground.
"Oh, Mamie 2 was all she could ar
tlculate. The horror OF her selfish Joy
at the price OF the disappointment Of
this child OF hers smote her white-lipped
and dumb.
But, with a bound and a ringing laugh,
Mamie was upon her, with her arms
about her neck.
"Oh, you dearest, dear goosel Are
you going 10 faint because you think 1
van 10 marry Mr.. Dilberi Why, /